East and North advance, will face off Saturday

Published: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 10:55 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 10:55 p.m.

EAST FLAT ROCK — It was Oscar Night on Wednesday at East Henderson's soccer field.

Oscar Garcia, that is.

The Eagle goalkeeper stopped shot after shot from a talented Cox Mill squad during Wednesday's first round of the 3-A state playoffs to finish with 12 saves in East's 2-1 victory.

"Oscar had a phenomenal night for us in goal, and we had a great night with our team defense," East coach Tim Roberts said. "Cox Mill is a great team. They are well-coached and well-discipled. I'm really proud of my boys tonight."

In the past two seasons, the Eagles have lost in the first round of the playoffs.

"It felt good to finally get a win in the first round and get that monkey off our backs," Roberts said.

In addition to the solid defensive effort, another big key was East's quick goals in the first half.

The Eagles got on the board in the 14th minute when John Escobar, with his back facing the goal, did a quick boot over the Cox Mill defender. The ball landed in front of a sprinting Diego Juarez, who sent a rocket into the right corner of the net.

Twenty minutes later in the 34th minute, East struck again, this time via the Juarez brothers. Diego Juarez passed off to his younger brother, Bryan, who knocked it in to make it 2-0.

"That was big for us to get on top early. That puts a lot of pressure on teams to score early like that," Roberts said.

The Chargers (11-7-3), who were the West's 24th seed, outshot the Eagles 18-13.

East (11-10), the West's ninth seed, will host North Henderson (11-6-1), which put away Crest 3-0 on Wednesday night in Shelby, on Saturday in the second round. The time is yet to be announced.

East and North split during the regular season, with North winning the first match 1-0 on Sept. 11 and East taking the second 2-1 on Oct. 7.

NORTH HENDERSON 3, CREST 0

Higlights: This was the first round of the 3-A state playoffs. North got goals by Alex Lopez, Jaime Calvillo and Arnulfo Lozano. The Knights were the 25th seed in the West 3-A bracket, and Crest was the eighth seed.

Records: North, 11-6-1. Crest, 10-10.

Next match: North, Saturday at East Henderson in the second round of the 3-A state playoffs. Crest's season is complete.

FRED T. FOARD 6, WEST HENDERSON 2

Highlights: This was the first round of the 3-A state playoffs played Wednesday at Fred T. Foard High School in Newton. Freshman Tyson Hichman had a goal for the Falcons, and the other West goal was an own goal. West was the 27th seed, and Foard was the sixth seed.

Records: West, 12-9-2. Foard, 16-5-3.

Next match: West's season is complete. Foard, Saturday vs. Northwest Cabarrus in the second round of the 3-A state playoffs.

<p>EAST FLAT ROCK — It was Oscar Night on Wednesday at East Henderson's soccer field.</p><p>Oscar Garcia, that is.</p><p>The Eagle goalkeeper stopped shot after shot from a talented Cox Mill squad during Wednesday's first round of the 3-A state playoffs to finish with 12 saves in East's 2-1 victory.</p><p>"Oscar had a phenomenal night for us in goal, and we had a great night with our team defense," East coach Tim Roberts said. "Cox Mill is a great team. They are well-coached and well-discipled. I'm really proud of my boys tonight."</p><p>In the past two seasons, the Eagles have lost in the first round of the playoffs.</p><p>"It felt good to finally get a win in the first round and get that monkey off our backs," Roberts said.</p><p>In addition to the solid defensive effort, another big key was East's quick goals in the first half. </p><p>The Eagles got on the board in the 14th minute when John Escobar, with his back facing the goal, did a quick boot over the Cox Mill defender. The ball landed in front of a sprinting Diego Juarez, who sent a rocket into the right corner of the net.</p><p>Twenty minutes later in the 34th minute, East struck again, this time via the Juarez brothers. Diego Juarez passed off to his younger brother, Bryan, who knocked it in to make it 2-0.</p><p>"That was big for us to get on top early. That puts a lot of pressure on teams to score early like that," Roberts said.</p><p>The Chargers (11-7-3), who were the West's 24th seed, outshot the Eagles 18-13.</p><p>East (11-10), the West's ninth seed, will host North Henderson (11-6-1), which put away Crest 3-0 on Wednesday night in Shelby, on Saturday in the second round. The time is yet to be announced.</p><p>East and North split during the regular season, with North winning the first match 1-0 on Sept. 11 and East taking the second 2-1 on Oct. 7.</p><p><b>NORTH HENDERSON 3, CREST 0</b></p><p>Higlights: This was the first round of the 3-A state playoffs. North got goals by Alex Lopez, Jaime Calvillo and Arnulfo Lozano. The Knights were the 25th seed in the West 3-A bracket, and Crest was the eighth seed.</p><p>Records: North, 11-6-1. Crest, 10-10.</p><p>Next match: North, Saturday at East Henderson in the second round of the 3-A state playoffs. Crest's season is complete.</p><p><b>FRED T. FOARD 6, WEST HENDERSON 2</b></p><p>Highlights: This was the first round of the 3-A state playoffs played Wednesday at Fred T. Foard High School in Newton. Freshman Tyson Hichman had a goal for the Falcons, and the other West goal was an own goal. West was the 27th seed, and Foard was the sixth seed.</p><p>Records: West, 12-9-2. Foard, 16-5-3.</p><p>Next match: West's season is complete. Foard, Saturday vs. Northwest Cabarrus in the second round of the 3-A state playoffs.</p>